The Elements of Creativity: Attributes Listing Method

Attribute listing is one of the best ways to generate ideas, whereby there any many parts to the problem/ challenge faced. If you are asked to generate ideas or solutions to a complex challenge, the first thing you can do is to list all the attributes of your problem.

These may include:

• Physical

• Mental

• Emotional

• Social

  < li>and more (depending on the complexity of the challenge)

By doing so, you can then concentrate on each attribute at a time. This will no doubt give you more peace of mind (and pulling of your hairs) when generating your ideas.

The attribute listing technique is often used in a Research & Development (R&D) department of many companies, especially those who are constantly producing innovative products to have an advantage over their competitors.

Let's go through this worked example to give you a better understanding of how attributes listing can be of help to you.

For example, if your challenge is to design a new ladies' handbag, you could list the attributes as: the physical aspects which include- shape, length, colour, materials used and on the emotional aspects-the stress some women faced of misplacing their handbags. You might choose to first tackle the emotional stress of losing one's handbag by creating a new small gadget to be placed within the handbag to sound the owner that she is moving too far away (maybe one or two metre away) from her 'treasure chest'. After that, you could work on the other attributes, one by one, be it the shape or materials used for the handbag.

Putting Your Elements to Work:

Try to generate oodles of ideas using attributes listing with these sets of challenges:

1. Design a new toy for children under 6 years old to teach them simple arithmetic. Safety is an important attribute.

2. Create a campaign to encourage people to stop smoking. (Think through the attributes: Physical, Mental, Emotional and Social)

3. Set up an effective marketing plan (there are many parts to a good marketing plan: the 4 P's ? Product, Price, Place and Promotion) for your new products.

Have Fun!

About The Author

Dr. Alvin Chan is a Senior Research Consultant at First Quatermain Centre of Collaborative Innovation (www.firstquatermain.com).

Please contact heartware2002@yahoo.com as a courtesy when reprinting the article online and/or offline.

bizguru88@hotmail.com

---

Improve Your Bottom Line, Kens Idea Saved over $100,000

Engaged employees can show us the way to continuously improve.... Read More

Self-Care for Creative Artists: 5 Ways to Start Today

Self-care is the path to creative expression. By paying closer... Read More

Unleash Your Creativity and Think Your Way Out of the Box

The brain is a strange organ. It works in ways... Read More

The 7 Simple Steps To Harnessing Your Creative Power And Achieving Incredible Success

Let me repeat what I believe is the most powerful... Read More

9 Steps to Supercharge Your Productivity with Creativity

Time is the great equalizer. Everybody has the exact same... Read More

Shyness - Another View

We are all born shy, aren't we? When we see... Read More

Drawing On Creativity: How To Trick Your Brain

Can you draw?Your answer to that question reveals a surprising... Read More

Gifts of the Inner Voice

Now that I no longer awaken to the sound of... Read More

Creativity Management ? Synergy of Craft and Art

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Art, Artists and Vocation

"If you really want to upset your parents?go into the... Read More

Charge Your Imagination (1)

"The challenges are not in the marketplace. They are in... Read More

Telling It Like It Is (Or Can Be)

When you hear, "tell me a story," does your mind... Read More

Creating Success

All things begin in consciousness.Consciousness originates everything that is manifest.... Read More

Creativity, Innovation, and Science ? Separate and Distinct or Not?

There is a pervasive belief that creativity and innovation are... Read More

Creativity Management ? Working From Real Life

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Why Teach Thinking? Why Not ?

The word 'creativity' has so many diverse meanings and interpretations.... Read More

Get Creativity?

Creativity is central to the management of our individual lives,... Read More

Connect With Your Creative Dream

We get so busy in our day-to-day life, with all... Read More

Think Orange! Creativity and the Sacral Chakra

Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could just flick a... Read More

Why Creative Visualization Works

Experience has shown that creative visualization works. It is quite... Read More

You Dont Have To Be An Artist To Be Creative

Imagine that a block of ice has been set on... Read More

Are You Inventive Enough to be an Inventor? Some Guidelines to Invention Success!

Inventors make a ton of money when the invention is... Read More

Connect with Your Surroundings

Clutter is one of my favourite topics, and I've written... Read More

Fear & Creativity

My fears are most powerful when they're simmering just under... Read More

7 Things Sapping Your Creativity Right Now

This was a very easy article to write. I was... Read More

Innovation Through Concept-Combination

There are many creative problem solving techniques used by inventors... Read More

How You Can Improve Your Creativity - What You Need to Know

Would you like to enhance your creativity? Do you think... Read More

9 Ways to Live Creatively

Creativity ? according to Webster's it means having the ability... Read More

Top Five Reasons to Cultivate Your Creativity

Cultivating your creativity is more than spending time with a... Read More

Five Steps to Higher Creativity: Engaging the Human Spirit

Unleash Your Creativity! Creativity has often been the misunderstood... Read More

How to Make Time for Art

The key to making time for art is the ability... Read More

Creativity Management ? Its All About Routine

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

True Power Series Part I. Visualization: Image Production and Verbal Thought

(5 minutes a day) There is no limit to what... Read More